Minnesota Statutes Economic Development and Planning (Ch. 116J-116O) § 116L.43. Targeted populations workforce grants

Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.

(b) “Community-based organization” means a nonprofit organization that:

(c) “Entry level jobs” means part-time or full-time jobs that an individual can perform without any prior education or experience.

(d) “High wage” means the income needed for a family to cover minimum necessary expenses in a given geographic area, including food, child care, health care, housing, and transportation.

(e) “Industry specific certification” means a credential an individual can earn to show proficiency in a particular area or skill.

(f) “Remedial training” means additional training provided to staff following the identification of a need and intended to increase proficiency in performing job tasks.

(g) “Small business” has the same meaning assection 645.445.

Subd. 2. Job and entrepreneurial skills training grants. (a) The commissioner shall establish a job and entrepreneurial skills training grant program that must provide competitive funding to community-based organizations to provide skills training that leads to employment or business development in high-growth industries.

(b) Eligible forms of skills training include:

(c) Grant awards must not exceed $750,000 per year per organization and all funding awards must be made for the duration of a biennium. An organization may partner with another organization to utilize grant awards, provided that the organizations must not be funded to deliver the same services. Grants related to entrepreneurial skills training awarded under this subdivision are not subject tosection 116L.98.

Subd. 3. Diversity and inclusion training for small employers. (a) The commissioner shall establish a diversity and inclusion training grant program which shall provide competitive grants to small businesses for diversity and inclusion training, including the creation and implementation of a plan to actively engage, hire, and retain people of color for both entry level and high-wage opportunities, including management and board of director positions.

(b) Grant awards must not exceed $30,000 per business. A business may only receive one grant for diversity and inclusion training per biennium.

(c) Applicants are required to submit a plan for use of the funds. Grant recipients are required to submit a diversity and inclusion implementation plan after training is completed.

(d) Grants awarded under this subdivision are not subject tosection 116L.98.

(e) Sections 116J.993to116J.995do not apply to assistance under this subdivision.

Subd. 4. Capacity building. (a) The commissioner shall establish a capacity building grant program to provide training services and funding for capacity building to community-based organizations.

(b) Eligible uses of grant awards include covering the cost of workforce program delivery staff, program infrastructure costs, and workforce training related service model development.

(c) Grant awards must not exceed $50,000 per organization and are limited to one grant per community-based organization.

(d) Grants awarded under this subdivision are not subject tosection 116L.98.

(e) Grant recipients must submit a report to the commissioner outlining the use of grant funds and the impact of that funding on the community-based organization's future ability to provide workforce development services.